Accused spent victim's cash on car, court told

By Malcolm BrownOctober 1 2002

A few hours after allegedly phoning police to send help to a robbery victim he is accused of killing, Ian Craig Styman used $4300 allegedly stolen from the woman to buy a car, Central Criminal Court was told yesterday.

Styman, who was accompanied by two men and a young woman, paid the money in cash, which included $100 bills in old currency of the type Joy Alchin, 70, was known to have hoarded in her home at Greenwell Point, near Nowra.

Allan Geoffrey Stoker, who had advertised the car, said that his wife had commented on the old notes, saying: "Where did you find them? Under a mattress or something?"

The sale had been completed and the man, who had made no comment on where he got the cash, had given his name as "I.C.Styman".

Styman, with his nephew, Shannon Troy Styman, and another man, Peter David Taber, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Alchin, 70. They allegedly raped and killed her after breaking into her home with the intention of robbing her. ");document.write("

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Ian Styman and Taber have also pleaded not guilty to breaking and entering, deprivation of liberty, stealing and sexual assault.

Shannon Styman has pleaded not guilty to sexual assault but guilty to breaking and entering, deprivation of liberty and robbery.

Ms Alchin, who had been tied, gagged and hooded, died of dehydration and asphyxiation on about January 17 last year, two days before her body was found.

She was bound at the wrists and ankles with grey duct tape and black plastic ties.

Most of yesterday's proceedings were taken up with video footage of a search conducted by police at Taber's house in Old Southern Road, South Nowra, on January 24 last year.

The video showed the discovery of two Halloween-type masks and a set of rubber gloves. Taber was heard saying his mother owned the gloves.

Constable Ray Thomas of Nowra police said he had participated in the search and had found two reels of grey duct tape and a bag with black plastic ties.